patio process

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patio process

or Mexican process

Method of isolating silver from its ore, apparently dating from pre-Columbian times. The ore was crushed and ground by mule power in arrastras, reducing it to a fine mud. This was then spread over a courtyard or patio, sprinkled with mercury, salt, and copper sulfate, and mixed by driving mules over it. Chemical reactions caused the silver to dissolve in the mercury. When the amalgamation was complete, the material was agitated with water in large tubs and the mud run off. The amalgam at the bottom was collected and heated to drive off the mercury. Used for much of the world's silver production for 350 years, the process was replaced by the cyanide process early in the 20th century.

patio process [′pad·ē·ō ′prä·səs]

(metallurgy)

A crude chemical method of reducing silver from its ores, followed by amalgamation in low heaps with the aid of salt and copper sulfate.

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No references found			In the 19th century, the Cyanidation procedures displaced the Patio process and Thum Balbach and Moebius electro refining procedures were introduced. Sterling Silver Jewelry by Margret Rosenthal / Women's issues/gender studies community			pathologist Pathology pathophobia Pathophysiology Pathopsychology pathotoxin pathovar Pathros pathspec pathway pathwise-connected set PATHWORKS Patiala Patiala and East Punjab States Union patience patient Patient Care Patientia patin Patina patination Patinir, Joachim Patinir, Joachim de Patiño, Simón Ituri Patio patio process Patkanian, Rafael Patkanov, Kerope Patkanov, Kerope Petrovich Patkhor Peak Patkul, Johann Reinhold von patland Patmore Patmore, Coventry Kersey Dighton Patmos Pátmos Patna Patoka Lake Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Patolichev, Nikolai Patolichev, Nikolai Semenovich Patom Highland Paton Paton, Alan Paton, Boris Paton, Boris Evgenevich Paton, Evgenii Paton, Evgenii Oskarovich Patorzhinskii, Ivan Patorzhinskii, Ivan Sergeevich Patos			patinates patinating Patination Patination patinations patinations patine patine patined patines patining Patinir Patinir (or Patenier, or Patinier), Joachim Patinir, Joachim Patinir, Joachim de patinise patinize Patinko Patiño & Partners Abogados Patiño, Simón Ituri patio patio patio Pátio Patio furniture Patio garden Patio garden Patio Heater for Built-in Application Patio installer Patio installer patio process Patio sealant Patio sealant patios patios Patis Patisaha Patisaha Patishahya patisserie patisseries PATIT patka Patkanian, Rafael Patkanov Patkanov, Kerope Patkanov, Kerope Petrovich Patkhor Peak Patkul, Johann Reinhold von PATL patland Patliputra Patliputra PATLL PATLS patly patly patly patly PATM Patmanabha Dasa

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